Ethan Strauss of ESPN.com parsing through LeBron’s angles: “NBA history may have turned on Ibaka’s calf, as the injury compromised the Thunder’s effort against the Spurs. The Heat matched up much better against Oklahoma City than against the San Antonio team that ended up throttling Miami. It’s hard to envision the possibility of James leaving had the Heat just won a third title –- as opposed to the current reality of James making this choice in the aftermath of the Heat losing three consecutive games in embarrassing fashion.”

Jay Bilas: “The best shooter in the draft, Stauskas can hit from deep, put the ball on the deck and pull up and get to the basket and finish. He proved to be far more than a standstill shooter playing off of Trey Burke, and he has a confidence bordering on cockiness that I love.” Keep Reading…

During the 2011 NBA lockout both the owners and players floated many ideas. At one point the owners proposed a rule that would apply to players assigned to the NBA Development League (more affectionately known as the D-League). The idea was that players who are sent to the D-League should be paid D-League wages while on assignment rather than their NBA contract rate.

The salary of a typical player that would be assigned to the D-League is a few hundred thousand dollars, if not a few million dollars, per season. The D-League rate: $13,000 to $25,500. Not per game. Not per week. Per season. Players understandably rejected this idea.

While the rule never made it into the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Oklahoma City may have found a way to apply this concept to 2013 second round pick Grant Jerrett. Keep Reading…

Baxter Holmes of the Boston Globe with a good piece on draft comps: “Rather, Embiid is being compared with Olajuwon at that stage, when both were young, and the comparison provides not only a point of reference, but it also offers a “ceiling” of just how good he might one day become. These comparisons are popular among fans, especially when a tantalizing young prospect is linked to a dominant NBA player, such as a Hall of Famer. And many of the comparisons come about because both players have similar builds, backgrounds, or playing styles. But all too often, comparisons are too easy, outlandish, or inaccurate, which ultimately can create lofty and unrealistic expectations.”

Darnell Mayberry: “As the NBA Draft approaches Thursday night, one question looms large. Can the Thunder do it again? Armed with two selections in the bottom third of the first round, the 21st and 29th picks, can the Thunder again come away with a steal? If anyone can do it, the Thunder seems to be that team. No team has had more success drafting in the 20s over the past six seasons than the Thunder, which over that span has acquired everything from stars to sixth men to promising sleepers.” Keep Reading…

I was doing some research today, making some calls, sending some texts and here’s what I found out: The draft is just three days away. I couldn’t believe it either.

The Thunder have two first round picks — No. 21 and No. 29 — giving Sam Presti what he craves on draft day: options. Move up, move out, move picks for players, draft and stash, stand pat — the Thunder could do a lot.

Presti values youth maybe more than any other GM in the league, especially because when you find a player like Steven Adams, you not only have a young contributor that’s only going to improve, but you have help on a great contract. Teams with top level stars on max deals like the Thunder have only a couple options in filling out the roster. Rookie scale deals, veteran minimums or just break over into luxury tax oblivion. We know the last option isn’t happening, and while the Heat have proven that the second way is a pretty good one, there isn’t a ton of sustainability in that. And Presti loves him some sustainability. Keep Reading…

Ben Golliver of SI.com on Thunder draft needs: “The Thunder face the possible departure of Thabo Sefolosha this summer and also must plan further into the future, as Kendrick Perkins finally comes off the books after next season and 33-year-old Nick Collison gets closer to winding down a stellar career. Perhaps even more pressing, Reggie Jackson’s impending free agency will force the Thunder’s hand and could wind up costing a pretty penny if they want to keep their talented sixth man. The good news: Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka are so good that the Thunder should be a strong championship contender even as the cast around them does some rotation. That’s especially true because Oklahoma City looks to have nailed their 2013 first-round pick by snagging Steven Adams, who looks like he will be occupying a starting job sooner rather than later.”

Anthony Slater on Andre Roberson: “Depends on his development and who the Thunder bring in this offseason, but I think it’ll be expanded some. There’s even a small chance, with Thabo Sefolosha expected to be gone, that Roberson starts. Scott Brooks likes defensive-minded players surrounding his stars at tip-off. But his future in the league as a rotation player depends on that shot. It’s gotta at least get to the point where teams aren’t completely backing off, begging him to take it.” Keep Reading…

And now the season is all over and we turn our eyes to soccer to dull the pain and searing loss that we experienced watching a team win it all that we had a good shot at beating if we were healthy.

It’s time for the draft. Kevin Durant and Sam Presti went to dinner again to discuss their options. This is that story.

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When Sam Presti walked into KD’s he was greeted by a woman named Monica and she was tall and blonde and pretty and she was singing along to Miranda Lambert — talking about a house she grew up in — and her voice sounded like syrup. The wind caught her hair as the door closed and it tossed it all around and she didn’t bother with it and Presti was attracted to her but he spoke nothing of it. Keep Reading…

Anthony Slater on expectations for Ibaka: “Any semblance of a post game would be nice. The past couple seasons, there were a few times when opposing teams were able to downsize and throw a much smaller guy on Ibaka. James Harden guarded him for brief stretches. Paul Pierce guarded him for most of a game. He’ll never be a ‘dump it down on the block 10 times a game’ guy. And the Thunder don’t need him to be. But Ibaka’s gotta be able to take more advantage of those mismatches just to dissuade teams from using them.”

Darnell Mayberry on Ibaka: “Ibaka’s steady improvement, as well as his drive and determination, suggest he’s still only scratched the surface of what he can be in this league. He’s finished in the top five in Defensive Player of the Year voting in each of the past three seasons, including a second-place finish in 2011-12 and a third-place finish in 2012-13. Ibaka is likely to face stiff competition to get over the hump. Big men such as Joakim Noah, Roy Hibbert, DeAndre Jordan, Dwight Howard, Marc Gasol and Anthony Davis figure to be in the running for the award for years to come. Wing players such as LeBron James, Paul George, Tony Allen, Andre Iguodala and Kawhi Leonard will be in play as well. But Ibaka has earned his place among them all.” Keep Reading…